Originally Posted by
mcjimbosandwich
I'm gonna assume that you are not a troll and that you neglected to read the first poster's response to my original response. I'd have some first hand evidence before making accusations of shoddy quality. First, let's get this cleared away. Taiwan, for all intents and purposes, is a first-world country making top notch products. China has come a long way and some factories are capable of making quality products. There are, no doubt, tons of factories that make crap products. If you can't differentiate between the two, you've got better things to do than to present your case with shoddy arguments. And while we are at it, Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore are all essentially first-world countries making top notch products.
Regarding your second point, you know, there's quality of product and then there's bias of consumers. Companies are not bound by rules of ethics, and it's not their duty to disabuse consumers about their incorrect notions when they can sell products to the same consumers and have them realize that the product they have bought is not so shoddy after all. No one is misleading you.
Third, regarding the whole "Made in Italy" thing, you do realize that many parts of Italy (e.g. Campania and Calabria) are basically second or third world in terms of development. So unless if that product is made in the industrialized North or is produced by a truly skilled artisan, Made in Italy is also an illusion. To top all this off, did you also know that in recent years Chinese laborers are imported into Italy to work in factories, and that the resulting products are being slapped with "Made in Italy"
Hey, I don't argue with you and I'm not a troll. If you think QC in China is as good across the board as it is in other countries, we can just agree to disagree on that. Also, I think it's a consumer's right to choose where to spend his (or her) money and where not to spend it. If someone chooses not to buy a bike made in China (or a gutrar, or baby formula, etc.), that person should be able to make that choice freely.
As I stated earlier, companies should not be allowed to use easy peel stickers that state "Made in China" or Taiwan on bikes. The country of origin should be clearly stated in non-removeable letters so the owners can display it "with pride". Most...I should say ALL of my friends with bikes made in China immediately remove the cheap sticker as soon as they get the bike home. I have a friend with a Bianchi who thinks his bike ('09 Vigorelli) was made in Italy. This is clearly misleading and I think manufacturers need to stop making it easy to hide where their bikes are made. Colnago, Bianchi, Cannondale should show off their "Made in China" or Taiwan heritage with the same pride as their Italy or USA made bikes of old.
Regarding Italian craftsmanship. I never saw an easy peel sticker that said "Made in Italy" on a bike. Either way, people should know where their money is being spent. Italian made bikes already state their heritage with pride. Companies who make bikes in China or Taiwan should have to do the same. \
I can't wait to see some dude "proudly" riding his 2011 CAAD9 down the street with "Made in China" or Taiwan emblazoned in large letters on the seat stays! Paint shops will make a fortune spraying over the print on these bikes.